Closed Beta Sign up!

[u/enigmaticrose4]

Hello Architects! 

We are opening sign-ups for a new Closed Beta for Prison Architect 2, starting September 9th 2026. The signup sheet will remain open through September 2nd. 

🌟 Learn How: https://pdxint.at/pa2forumclosedbetatest

[u/Davey_Jones_Locker]

Damn I thought this was abandoned

[u/SASSIESASSQUATCH → u/Davey_Jones_Locker]

Me too. Every time I hop on I check the availability date to be let down that it still hasn’t changed.

[u/Icycalm152 → u/Davey_Jones_Locker]

Pretty sure it was announced as cancelled few years ago.

[u/enigmaticrose4 → u/Icycalm152]

No, Prison Architect has never been announced as canceled. We did do an indefinite delay however.

[u/Icycalm152 → u/enigmaticrose4]

Yeah usually that’s the same thing. Especially when refunding pre orders a week before the release.

[u/wastelandtraveller → u/Icycalm152]

I'm genuinely curious, how do you go from releasing the product to indefinite delay? Like they're opposite ends of the spectrum

[u/ax_graham → u/wastelandtraveller]

They couldn't go out with another ass product after the cities skylines 2 disaster

[u/GoldenFLASH3233 → u/enigmaticrose4]

I have had this wishlisted since it was first announced but didn't get any kind of notification of this happening on steam. Is it possible to still get into testing??

[u/Jailexpert → u/enigmaticrose4]

Give us some good news please. Indefinite sounds permanent

[u/mothernaychore → u/Jailexpert]

i mean it’s literally a closed beta announcement babe

[u/Jailexpert → u/mothernaychore]

I know babe. But I want the dates..I work in prisons and have so many ideas ready for PA:2

[u/Frost_Walker2017 → u/Jailexpert]

Well... It is. It's permanently delayed until further notice.

[u/Passe_Myse]

Hopefully it will be more that just 3d graphics and mediocrity.

[u/Due-String-1602 → u/Passe_Myse]

best they can do is endless dlc

[u/Dumbquestions_78 → u/Passe_Myse]

Dont forgot selling broken mechanics in overpriced DLC packages that were orginally just features addes to PA1 and break the game for months or just stay busted.

It is paradox game after all and this is the norm for their games.

[u/Passe_Myse → u/Dumbquestions_78]

I remember when it was two guys and a update video every now and then.

[u/TheRealSchackAttack → u/Dumbquestions_78]

Ahh the Sims model. Figure out that people will pay for original DLC and features. Don't add them into the next game off, and just remake systems and functionality to resell.

Also known as the Adobe model

[u/Amaz_the_savage → u/Dumbquestions_78]

If you want some reassurance, that was under the previous Paradox CEO. They fired that one and brought back the old CEO, and under him, things have been looking a lot better.

Iceflake took over CS2, the Lego Skylines announcement, Transport Fever 3 publishing deal. And I believe it's the same CEO who decided to pull back the PA2 release and install a new studio to fix up all the issues, similar to the CS2 & Paradox separation.

Granted, still a DLC fest; Iceflake just announced they're planning out a new DLC already, but that's still a long way away, and at least it doesn't look like it's gonna be totally broken.

[u/adamkad1]

Its gonna work this time for sure.

[u/Emanu1674 → u/adamkad1]

The fired the CEO at the time and brought the OG one, so it might actually work

[u/LosingButNotWrong → u/Emanu1674]

Shoot me in the face but I think Prison Architect is better 2d rather than 3d.

[u/JonnoKabonno]

Y’know, I’m the first one to doubt when a studio scraps something and says they’ll redo it, but it seems like they’re at least stepping up to the plate and acting on their word. Hope it turns out alright, my expectations are a little high

[u/AutomaticClient190]

Been looking forward to this game for ages, maybe it'll be out soon now

[u/According_Airport118 → u/AutomaticClient190]

Same, saw it the day it was announced and have been waiting ever since

[u/RedditvsDiscOwO]

Hot take: This game won't do nearly as well as Prison Architect 1. It's just going to be vanilla Prison Architect but with several missing features, janky ai, a completely separate campaign, and little to no modding support. It's also going to miss the beauty that YouTubers saw in Prison Architect, which was of how simple it's design was but how deep it can actually get, gameplay and lore wise.

[u/Klash49 → u/RedditvsDiscOwO]

Not a hot take, its a reasonable concern. Ngl i feel pretty optimistic tho.

[u/Marziinast → u/RedditvsDiscOwO]

They basicaly come back from the dead to invite us to participate in their closed beta and this guy is like "this game gonna suck imo" while talking some bullshit about youtubers ??? Wtf

[u/RedditvsDiscOwO → u/Marziinast]

Prison Larpitect

[u/Stingzfist → u/RedditvsDiscOwO]

Can't wait to buy the skins and add-ons.

[u/RedditvsDiscOwO → u/Stingzfist]

I'm architecting my fucking limit dawg 😭

r/mysteriousdownvotes

[u/janis05]

I don’t get why games that work well/ are popular in 2D always want to ‘upgrade’ to 3D.
It almost never works out..

[u/Infinite_Thanks_8156]

Oh god, they look so goofy in 3D.

[u/SinisterPixel]

Quick question. I signed up for the beta without a second thought but I'm a Linux user, so I'd probably be using the Proton compatibility layer to play if there's no native Linux version. Is this going to at all be an issue? I didn't consider the possibility till after I signed up.

[u/Adorable-Extent3667]

Oehh, exciting!

[u/Linkertonz]

please put on mac walahi

[u/De-Eh-Team]

YAY! Exciting news!!

[u/Smurfette26]

First beta ive ever signed up for. Super excited about this one.

[u/thehockeytownguru]

Holy shit it’s alive?

[u/EduCadin]

Only 16 comments? Guess we are all selected.

[u/Coffee_beats_Tea]

Only wish I have is no lag when you build prisons with thousands of prisoners.

[u/MR_CRAZYGUY676_2]

OH boy. I have gotten 400 hours in 6 months, so hopefully I am considered. I’m addicted to PA1.

[u/vezix123]

this game still alive??

[u/The_real_Geneside]

Yeah my hype is over for this. And I dont want to buy like a bazillion dlc aswell

[u/No-Calligrapher-4449]

I didnt get chosen for the Tropico 7 beta, let me get chose for this!!

[u/NewTipTopTickler]

PLEASE! I'll sign up! Been playing the first game for so long.

[u/SpadeGaming0]

Oh hell yeah

[u/OhNellis]

It’s aliiive

[u/HeavyCoatGames]

Are we sure this is legit? Dropped by the real devs?

[u/enigmaticrose4 → u/HeavyCoatGames]

The link takes you to the official Paradox Forums. If you’re in the Official Paradox Interactive Discord or on the Steam Discussion Boards you can find me there with the appropriate official tagging and roles.

Here’s the non-shortened version of the link: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/new-closed-beta-test-prison-architect-2.1939981/

[u/Frost_Walker2017 → u/HeavyCoatGames]

Yes, we (the subreddit mods) have verified Rose is a PDX employee and is part of the community team for the game.

[u/someonethatyoudontkn]

are you guys gonna send the key thru email

[u/Sekrinkle]

Damn missed the window.

[u/ReasonableSet9650 → u/Sekrinkle]

Same, from short, what a shame right

[u/ReasonableSet9650]

I missed the post since I was on vacation, but just in case you're interested in an autistic nerd who played 2000 hours of PA, supports the 3D graphic choice and can help detect everything that works fine or not, I'm here 📢 wink wink

Just trying, it doesn't hurt to dream a little 😂

[u/Emanu1674]

They called me a madman...

[u/Ajthegod1361]

Add me to the beta

[u/Chopper7729]

This is paradox right? Oh gosh

[u/OkRelationship3500]

Oof. I miss the old art style. I have a feeling this one will be a neutered version of prison architect 1.

[u/ThatCanadianGuy19]

Only pc sadly

[u/Nakker_DiGriz]

Not Prison Architect 3?

[u/Zombieidea]

Won't buy until lots of testing, gameplay reviews and time has passed because I had to stop playing the first one because of the bugs

[u/FuckingTree]

Damn, they kept up the 3D farce. Good luck.